Organized for Murder Page 6

  "Not that kind of organic." Mrs. Baxter took a sip of coffee, then raised the plate and offered another cookie. Kate held up a hand, smiling her thanks-but-no-thanks, and the older woman continued, "Oh, he claims he's just growing flowers in the greenhouse, and carts around those bottles of supplements. Always trying to get me to take some of them hocus pocus pills. But he can't fool me." She leaned closer again and whispered, "I've smelled marijuana smoke on his clothes."

  Interesting. The daily headlines screamed about rising teen drug use. Look at all the Ecstasy stories, and the date rape drugs. Roofies. The thought made Kate want to run to find the twins and lock them in their room until they turned twenty-five. "Did you ask Danny about it?"

  "No need." The well-nourished cat returned and performed a graceful leap into Mrs. Baxter's ample lap. "Miss Amelia smelled it, too. Recognized the nasty smell from the days she dealt with her ne'er-do-well son, Thomas. In fact, the bum dropped by that afternoon because he wanted to get more money off his mother."

  "I thought Thomas came to check over the car for Danny," Kate prodded.

  Mrs. Baxter sniffed. "The man doesn't mind getting his hands dirty, that's for sure. Could have told Miss Amelia he wasn't a good influence on Danny. Not my place, of course."

  "What happened when she smelled the marijuana on Danny?"

  "Miss Amelia took her grandson by the ear and marched him right into the study." Mrs. Baxter gave a decisive nod. "Even with the door closed their yelling came through. Then the boy slammed out of the house a half-hour later."

  "Exactly what day was that?" Kate asked.

  "Monday."

  Two days before Amelia's murder.

  "With them yelling, did you understand any of what they said?" Kate prompted, feeling creepily voyeuristic despite this being a mission of self-preservation.

  As her hand stroked the purring cat, Mrs. Baxter's face took on the same self-satisfied expression the feline wore. "I could only pick up the stray word, but I definitely heard 'lawyer' and 'inheritance.' Both of which were in Miss Amelia's voice."

  CHAPTER FIVE

  STACKED IN YOUR FAVOR, LLC

  KATE MCKENZIE, PRES.

  Friday afternoon, April 9th

  WORDS TO STAY ON-TRACK:

  "The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication."

  — Cecil B. De Mille —

  GOAL(S) FOR THE DAY:

  Need to get in touch with Jane—ship enters Port of Miami, Sat. a.m.

  Trade info with Meg—find out what she learned at lunch.

  Take meat out of freezer to make cheeseburger potatoes for dinner.

  Call Keith—see if he'll be home during his afternoon break to talk.

  Find Tiffany

  MOST IMPORTANT—Take girls for ice cream or my name is Mud!

  *

  Despite Hazelton's tiny, bucolic aesthetics, lunchtime along Main Street was always a busy place, with steady, brisk trade. A tour bus stood in the parking lot of Molly's Café, its passengers offloaded for food and a stretch. A nearby auction meant droves of antique hunters prowled the shops. Kate wasn't sure which direction to head after leaving Mrs. Baxter's but felt she needed to find someplace that seemed normal.

  Like the Book Nook.

  Saree Modine was a Jamaican transplant by way of a New Orleans marriage. She'd arrived in Hazelton after her husband, Marcel, a professor of art history, gained a position at nearby Bennington College. Her bookstore and coffee bar, as eclectic as her life's journey, boasted cheerful ambiance, comfy chairs, offbeat inventory, and the best hot drinks in town. Kate found it instantly charming, and the special kinship the women shared for why they'd moved to the area created another bonus. When Kate asked how the couple adapted to the Vermont climate, a blush had colored the young woman's café au lait cheekbones, and Saree had said with a giggle, "We be newlyweds forever, we keep livin' here, no? Nothin' better for stayin' warm than keepin' those sheets dancin' these cold northern nights." Kate vowed then and there to spend all her free time in the shop with the upbeat, curly-haired sprite.

  The van's clock read nearly one o'clock, and Kate looked forward to more than a haven from conflicting thoughts and theories. She hoped a bite of lunch and cup of caffeine might settle her stomach as well.

  In the store entry, a poster on an easel displayed a smiling shot of Kate. She grinned and read the announcement for "A Night with an Organizational Expert." Months earlier Saree had asked her to speak on spring cleaning and clutter-busting and scheduled the event at what had seemed far into the future.

  But the future is a few days away!

  Though Kate had faithfully prepared, writing succinct notes on index cards, it was a bit of a shock to realize her fifteen minutes of fame were fast approaching. More jitters to abate. She turned toward the café section of the shop.

  Three couples lingered over their meals, but another pair showed signs of leaving. Kate dropped her purse at the table in the far corner and ordered a cup of green tea with mango and a vegetarian muffaletta from the young man at the counter. She planned on splitting the decadent sandwich into thirds, and taking two parts home for the girls to eat over the weekend. While her twins would live on pizza, hotdogs, and hamburgers if given the chance, they never failed to eat anything from Saree's. Kate intended to put the huge sandwich's good nutrition to excellent use.

  Said storekeeper, wrapped in a dress of swirling kaleidoscopic colors, stood at the main register ringing up a book sale, but she headed to Kate's table as soon as her happy customer jingled out the door.

  "Ah, Kate McKenzie." Saree flashed a smile. "Did you see your sign?"

  "I did, Saree. It made me feel truly professional."

  Saree laughed. "You are that, chickie." She checked back over her shoulder, then added, "I believe I join you a moment."

  "Tea and company." Kate nodded, and Saree's calm embraced her. She'd been right to come here. "Yes, please join me."

  Bringing back a java brew smelling of cinnamon, Saree cocked an eyebrow and asked, "What troubles your soul, chickie?"

  Kate reviewed her options. Once again divulge the whole sad tale to someone else before she told it all to Keith? Or shrug off her friend's concern and claim overwork and motherhood? A split second later she decided the latter wasn't an option. Her psyche had chosen the Book Nook for a reason. Still, telling Saree everything didn't seem the best plan either. Kate improvised. "I lost a client yesterday."

  Saree waved her hand in a graceful gesture. "Their loss, chickie. I lose customers, I say I find more. You be good at your job."

  "You don't understand." Kate took a sip of the fruity tea, and contemplated her next words. "My client and I didn't part ways; she died. No, she was murdered."

  The lithe dark hands flew to the flawless cheeks. "Miss Amelia?"

  Kate nodded. "Apparently right after I left for the day."

  "Such nastiness in this world." Saree pursed her lips, her forehead creasing with thought. "Miss Amelia, she grew beautiful flowers."

  Kate recalled the elegant greenhouse behind the mansion, where she'd discovered Danny and Bill Nethercutt arguing. She considered what Mrs. Baxter alluded to regarding Danny's growing habits.

  "Chose many books on flowers, she did." Saree smiled again, and her accented lilt rose with the memory. "Her grandson, he come with her often. She come alone sometimes, too, lookin' for new books and such."

  "You know Danny?" Kate's muffaletta arrived, along with her requested takeout container.

  "I know him, yes. Know most the family." Saree gestured toward the white box. "Takin' my good food home to your little beauties, eh?"

  Kate nodded as she divided the sandwich and picked up a wedge. "I can always get the twins to eat veggies if I say they came from you."

  "Sweet things." Saree made a tsking sound. "Too bad Miss Amelia didn't have such sweet chicks."

  The muffaletta suddenly tasted like cardboard. Kate put it back
on the plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "What are your impressions of Miss Amelia's family?"

  Saree shook her tight curls, and sadness washed over her face. She leaned close and whispered, "They not really care about her, no. I hear them, grandson and son, talkin' when they come to get her order. Orchids, them books were. I walk away a moment. Come back and hear them call her names, the nasty b-word. Complain about tight purse, how she greedy, stingy. Cannot wait for her to die." Her hand flew up and covered her mouth. A second later she said, "I misspeak. I not mean to say—"

  Kate squeezed Saree's arm. "We're just talking here. Two friends. What can you tell me about lily of the valley?"

  "You're plantin' them?"

  Kate smoothed her napkin as she bit her lower lip. The police hadn't said she couldn't say anything. "That's how someone poisoned Amelia. In a cup of tea."

  Saree rose, shaken, and lifted her nearly full cup from the table. "I have much work to do."

  "Saree, I—"

  As if to validate her escape, a young mother and tow-headed son moved to the register cradling armloads of brightly-colored board books. "I must go."

  At a loss, Kate watched the retreating figure, then loaded the white box with muffaletta and pulled out her casebook. Everything Saree said confirmed what she had already heard from Mrs. Baxter and surmised for herself. She was no longer hungry, but taking time to jot down notes would allow the crowd to clear and give her an opportunity to speak to Saree again before leaving. Plus, whatever she got onto paper spent less time rolling around as obsessive thoughts later.

  Turning to a fresh page, she headed it "General Info & Witness Statements."

  General Info & Witness Statements (and New Questions)

  William "Bill" Nethercutt:

  Is Amelia's stepson—Sophia's brother—Danny's father.

  Seems to be in huge disagreement with son over MG. Why?

  As a tax attorney, how much did Bill know about Amelia's estate? How would Mr. Daniel's portion of the estate get divided? Kate needed to learn if everything sat in trust for Ameila's lifetime, or if it all went directly to his loving wife. And what about the missing hall display case? Bill hadn't liked Danny telling Kate that Sophia swiped it.

  Danny:

  Is Amelia's step-grandson.

  Huge fight with father this a.m. Is that this father/son usual dynamic?

  Seems ready to implicate everyone as possible murder suspect.

  Doesn't act at all nervous about pointing the finger in my direction—if he did.

  At the police station Kate thought Danny had labeled her top suspect and chief patsy, but her field trip told her she was one of many. The teen had no compunction at pointing a finger at his father's disappearance. His Uncle Thomas hadn't gotten a break either. The way Danny told it, Thomas made several trips into the kitchen with groceries, presumably without supervision.

  Funny, though, the teen never said anything to implicate Sophia. Why? His comments in the kitchen were anything but complimentary toward his aunt.

  It would help to know the details of the changing will. Lieutenant Johnson alluded to minor alterations, but Kate remembered the way Amelia spoke to Sophia. People like the viper don't sweat over minor alterations.

  Nothing was more fiscally responsible than dealing with matters like wills as soon as a change became necessary, but was it a coincidence Miss Amelia changed hers a week after Sophia mentioned disappearing household treasures? Were they stolen and hoarded? Sold? Or just used to incriminate Kate? She considered Mrs. Baxter's information about Danny's row with his grandmother mere days before her death. Did the police have a list of the missing pieces? Did Danny steal and sell the items? Or did Bill? Was that why he didn't want Danny talking about Sophia taking the foyer collection, worried it would draw attention to other missing pieces?

  Logic told Kate she was on the right track. She just needed to get everything on paper and look for a pattern.

  General:

  Could any of the male Nethercutt clan have spiked the tea and gotten Amelia to drink it in time for the lawyer and Mrs. B to find her dead?

  How long does the poison take to work?

  At exactly what time was she found?

  Kate dropped her pen, irritated with herself for neglecting to ask Mrs. Baxter the last question.

  Another reason to visit the cottage again. Yes, I definitely should watch some detective shows. I stink at investigating.

  As irritated as she was with her follow-through of the morning, she couldn't give up yet. A little logical deduction, noting everything that cropped up, and next time she would be ready.

  Mrs. Baxter:

  Longtime friend of Miss Amelia—family worked for Amelia's parents, the Lanes. Hired immediately after Amelia returned to Hazelton Says Amelia's family wanted her money & hated her for having a controlling manner Overheard closed-door/marijuana row between Amelia & Danny two days before murder

  All kinds of things lay buried in Mrs. B's revelations, but Kate couldn't be sure if the weirdness of their conversation was due to it being two days after Amelia's death or because the cook always spoke a bit duplicitously. She should have taken Meg along. Even if her neighbor didn't know Mrs. Baxter personally, she might have been more on point when reading the longtime Hazeltonite. Kate puzzled over how to interpret the dismissive tone the cook used speaking of Amelia's and Mr. Daniel's collections. Resentment could be a powerful force.

  The weekly cleaning crew angle was promising. Kate remembered Mrs. Baxter never said whether anything was missing at the time of Miss Amelia's death, either.

  She saw Saree conclude business with her customer and move on to straightening shelves.

  Saree:

  Heard Thomas (son) & Danny (grandson) grumbling over Amelia's thrift Danny often to Book Nook with Amelia for new purchases. Was she training him to assume her gardening pursuits, or does he truly have an interest in flowers & plants?

  Need to find out what kind of books Danny is interested in.

  Saree might hold the answer to the last inquiry on her list. Could the gardening books Danny perused to share his grandmother's passion have provided the means of killing her?

  Kate left a tip and headed for the back shelves where she'd seen Saree disappear. She found the shopkeeper sitting on the floor of the hobby section, a large gardening book in her lap.

  "Authors try to save heartache, tell things in books to keep folks from hurtin'." Saree brushed fingers across an open page, a small, full-color photo of lily of the valley in one corner. "Instead, words give strength to meanness, help curious ones deal death."

  Kate knelt beside her. "Looks like we've been thinking along the same lines. I came to ask if one of Amelia's gardening books had information that included potential poisons."

  Saree turned the book, and Kate read the opened text.

  Beware that all parts of lily of the valley are poisonous, as well as the water stems have sat in. Reaction is immediate. If anyone is suspected of ingesting any part of this plant, especially the leaves, victim should be immediately transported to the nearest medical facility.

  The words "reaction is immediate" swam before Kate's eyes. At least she finally had proof anyone with an opportunity to slip into the kitchen could have killed Amelia. She could also forget stopping by the library. She had her answer.

  "I never thought my books be bad," Saree said, sighing heavily as she took back the massive volume and slid it into the empty spot on the shelf.

  "Nothing you could do." Kate patted her shoulder, then rose. "Anyone with a murderous heart will search until a means is found."

  The women walked to the front of the store, silent until Kate reached for the doorknob.

  "You take care, Kate McKenzie," Saree warned. "This mischievous one has put you within touchin' distance of a nasty deed. Take care you not smacked into its center."

  The tinkling door chimes only heightened Saree's warning as Kate left the bookstore. She was already "smack into its center"
and would remain there until the murderer was found.

  She might lack faith in her detecting abilities, but Kate knew her organizing skills could help compensate for those deficiencies. It was too early to pick up the girls or interrogate Tiffany. The cruise ship wouldn't hit port in Miami until the next morning, but Jane might be reachable by cell phone. Besides, she didn't want her motherin-law to get the tragic information at sea from an impersonal television source.

  Kate whipped out her Android and punched in the number, but a mechanical voice delivered the "not currently in the calling area" message. Sighing, she headed for home. Maybe Meg would be back from lunch with her mother.

  *

  Meg met Kate before she could get out of the van. The emerald sweats had been exchanged for a flowing floral skirt in spring colors to accommodate her ladies' luncheon and spy mission, but green remained her blouse color of choice, only now in a sage hue. Waving a sheet torn from a legal pad, Meg crowed, "The old girls really dished."

  Kate motioned her inside. "Come on, we'll sit in the kitchen."

  They traded information, Meg reading over the casebook while Kate studied the yellow page. Apparently, Amelia belonged to every gardening group in New England, and Danny had indeed been "crowned heir," happily assuming responsibility for the greenhouse whenever his grandparents left town. Additionally, one of the ladies remembered Miss Amelia worried right before Mr. Daniel's death, about Sophia campaigning to divert her father's attentions away from his wife.

  "Did Amelia actually call Sophia a witch, and say she was working to alienate Mr. Daniel's affections from her? From Miss Amelia, I mean?" Kate asked, tapping the line with a fingertip.

  "That's what Hyacinth told us."

  "Hyacinth? Really?"

  "Yep." Meg grinned. "Guess with that name she had to be in the gardening group. The Harley club wouldn't take her."

  Kate laughed. It still seemed a little strange trusting someone else like this, but true friendship had been sorely missing from her life.